Murder-suicide investigation in Woodland continues

A man shot his girlfriend dead with a pistol before pulling the gun on himself in an apparent murder-suicide at a Woodland home Sunday afternoon.

Around 5:05 p.m., Woodland police officers and medical personnel responded to 294 Riverside Drive for a report of a shooting that just occurred, according to Sgt. Brett Hancock.

"Responding officers arrived on scene within minutes and located an adult female and an adult male suffering from apparent gunshot wounds inside the residence," said Hancock in a report. "Both subjects were pronounced dead a short time later by medical personnel. ... Though the investigation is ongoing, preliminarily it is believed the deceased female and deceased male had been in a dating relationship and this was a domestic violence related murder-suicide."

The Democrat previously reported that the man shot his mother, which is not the case. The names of the shooter and his victim are not being released at this time, though Hancock did confirm they were both in their 40s.

There were four other people inside the residence at the time of the shooting who were not harmed. All four are related to the victim, said Hancock, though the relationships were not immediately available. At least one is an adult, and the rest may be children.

The crime scene was contained to the home, and police aren't searching for any other suspects involved in the murder-suicide.

The home is located at the northwest corner of Riverside Drive and Ashley Avenue, about three blocks from West Main Street, and directly across the street from the Courtside Towers apartment complex. More than 50 people watched as emergency crews sealed off the crime scene Sunday evening.

Neighbors surrounding the home were baffled by the sudden police activity. One youth, who lived with his parents directly south of where the shooting occurred, said he heard nothing until firefighters and police arrived on scene. Another individual, who did not want to be identified, said he had heard shouting the night before, but his comments could not be verified.

Police, fire and an ambulance crew all arrived at the scene about the same time. Police were the first to go into the home, but were outside within minutes. Firefighters went in next but also came out shortly after. Ambulance personnel initially brought a gurney to the front of the single-story, yellow-painted home, but later took it back to the ambulance.

A police chaplain arrived about a half-hour after the initial reports and left with at least three teenage boys and a teenage girl. Others who apparently knew the occupants of the home arrived and could be seen crying and hugging one another.

Anyone who may have information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Woodland Police Department at 666-2411.